Hanger and size marker and assembly thereof

ABSTRACT

A hanger has a support rod engaging portion, a garment supporting portion extending downwardly of the support rod engaging portion and a size marker receiving portion opening into the periphery of the hanger, the hanger defining in the size marker receiving portion at least one deflectable size marker retaining member. A size marker for assembly with a hanger includes a rigid body defining a ceiling and front and rear walls extending downwardly of the ceiling to a floor, at least one passage opening into the floor and extending to the ceiling, the body defining a recess extending between the front and rear walls, the recess communicating with the passage at an upper portion thereof.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to hangers and pertainsmore particularly to hangers and size markers attached thereto.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] One known hanger with size marker attached thereto is shown inU.S. Pat. No. 5,687,887 (“the '887 patent”).

[0003] In the '887 patent, size marker mounting structure 15 of hanger10 extends angularly between hook 12 and hanger body 11, forming ajuncture therebetween, and includes parallel walls 29 and third wall 29′and rib 16 extending between parallel walls 29. A gap (not numbered)exists as between rib 16 and third wall 29′. The patent defines the gapas a hole or opening.

[0004] Marker 20 is mounted on or over rib 16 in self-locking relationand includes a pair of spaced apart parallel walls 21 which receive therib therebetween. Each wall 21 includes three inwardly directed flanges22, 23 and 24.

[0005] In order to mount the marker 20 on the rib 16, the lowermostflanges 22 of the marker 20 are disposed on the rounded top 17 of therib 16. A force is then impressed on the marker 20 so that the inclinedsurfaces of the lowermost flanges 22] slide on the top 17 of the rib 16thereby causing the walls 21 of the marker 20 to splay outwardly.Continued pressing of the marker 20 onto the rib 16 allows the lowermostflanges to pass over the top 17 followed by passage of the internalflanges 23, 24 over the top 17. This motion continues until the upperflanges 24 snap into the longitudinal grooves 19 of the rib 16. At thesame time, the walls 21 of the marker 20 move towards each other so thatthe lowermost flanges 22 slide under the rib 16, that is, into the gap.At this time, the marker 20 becomes locked to the rib 16.

[0006] Another known hanger with size marker attached thereto is shownin U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,101 (“the 101 patent”).

[0007] In the “101 patent, hanger 10 includes a tab mounting member (tabholder) 30 which extends intermediate shoulder 13 of hanger body 12 andangled base section 20 of hook member 14. Tab holder 30 includes anupper enlarged region 40 formed as an arrowhead having sloping sides 41and 42 and ledges 43a and 43b. A lower enlarged region 44, also ofarrowhead shape, is formed below upper region 40 and has slopingsidewalls 45 and 46. Base 47 is formed below region 44 and has ledges47a and 47b.

[0008] Information tab 50 is generally U-shaped in cross-section andincludes opposing legs 52 and 54 extending from top wall 56. Curved ends52a and 54a of legs 52 and 54 define a gap 58 (FIG. 5). Tab 50 furtherincludes interior projections in the form of resilient fingers 60 and62.

[0009] In assembling tab 50 with tab holder 30, gap 58 is arrangedadjacent region 40 of tab holder 30 and is forced thereon, providing theassembly of FIG. 3. Due to the inward curved construction of the ends ofthe legs 52 and 54 which bear against wall 48 and rib 32, and theresilient fingers 60 and 62 locking under base 43, a double securelocking system is provided.

[0010] The '887 and the '101 patents require flexible structure in theirsize markers for self-locking the size markers to the hangers.

[0011] Other hanger and size marker assemblies are shown in U.S. Pat.Nos. 5,611,469, 5,441,182, 5,449,099, 5,305,933, 4,997,114, 4,115,940,3,949,914 and Des. 244,914. All such assemblies have in common with the'887 and '101, the requirement for flexible structure in their sizemarkers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The present object has as its primary object an improved hanger,size marker and hanger and size marker assembly.

[0013] In attaining this and other objects, the invention provides, inone aspect, a hanger having a support rod engaging portion, a garmentsupporting portion extending downwardly of the support rod engagingportion and a size marker receiving portion opening into the peripheryof the hanger, the hanger defining in the size marker receiving portionat least one deflectable size marker retaining member.

[0014] In another aspect, the invention provides a size marker forassembly with a hanger comprising a rigid body defining a ceiling andfront and rear walls extending downwardly of the ceiling to a floor, atleast one passage opening into the floor and extending to the ceiling,the body defining a recess extending between the front and rear walls,the recess communicating with the passage at an upper portion thereof.

[0015] In a further aspect, the invention provides, in combination, ahanger having a support rod engaging portion, a garment supportingportion extending downwardly of the support rod engaging portion and asize marker receiving portion opening into the periphery of the hanger,the hanger defining in the size marker receiving portion at least onedeflectable size marker retaining member and a size marker disposed inthe hanger size marker receiving portion and secured to the hanger bythe deflectable size marker retaining member.

[0016] The invention will be further understood from consideration ofthe following description of preferred embodiments thereof and from thedrawings where like reference numerals identify like parts throughout.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017]FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a hanger and size marker assemblyin accordance with the invention.

[0018]FIG. 1A is right side elevation of FIG. 1.

[0019]FIG. 2 is a partial view of the hanger of FIG. 1, showing thestructure of the size marker receiving portion thereof.

[0020]FIG. 3 is a central sectional view of a size marker in accordancewith the invention.

[0021]FIG. 4 is a left side elevation of the size marker of FIG. 3.

[0022]FIG. 5 is a partial view of the hanger of FIG. 2 in assembly withthe size marker of FIGS. 3 and 4, shown in central section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS AND PRACTICES

[0023] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 1A, a first embodiment of a hanger andsize marker assembly in accordance with the invention includes hanger 10and size marker 12. Hanger 10 comprises support rod engaging portion 14,garment supporting portion 16 and size marker receiving portion 18. Sizemarker 12 is retained in size marker receiving portion 18 once sizemarker 12 is applied to hanger 10.

[0024] Garment supporting portion 16 is shown generically, i.e., withoutspecificity as to its garment supporting appurtenances, which are not ofconsequence to the subject invention, and which may take any ofwell-known structures. For example, such appurtenances may be as shownin commonly-owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,069,373, which is incorporated hereinby this reference thereto.

[0025] Referring to FIG. 2, size marker receiving portion 18 includesoutwardly open recess, bounded by floor 20 and sidewalls 22 and 24,which extend upwardly or outwardly of floor 20.

[0026] Size marker retaining members 26 and 28 extend upwardly oroutwardly of floor to free ends which have retaining structures 30 and32 formed thereon preferably in the form of hooks. Guide ribs 34 and 36are formed on sidewalls 22 and 24 with guiding bevels 34 a and 36 a.

[0027] Sidewalls 22 and 24 each have a dimension outwardly of floor 20which exceeds a dimension of each of size marker retaining members 26and 28 outwardly of floor 20 for purposes discussed below.

[0028] Turning to FIGS. 3 and 4, size marker 12 is a rigid, i.e.,inflexible body, which includes ceiling 38, from which depend front wall40 and rear wall 42, and central floor portion 44. Sidewardly openpassages 46 and 48 extend from floor portion 44. Recesses 50 and 52communicate with passages 46 and 48 above hook catching ledges 54 and56.

[0029] Referring to FIG. 5, it shows, in central partial section, theassembly of hanger 10 and size marker 12. As is seen, size markerretaining members 26 and 28 of hanger 10 are resident in passages 46 and48 of size marker 12 and ceiling 38 thereof nests within sidewalls 34and 36 of hanger 10, forming a planar surface with hanger portions 10 aand 10 b (FIGS. 1 and 1A). This results from the above-notedforeshortening of size marker retaining members 26 and 28 relative tohanger sidewalls 22 and 24. Retention structures 30 and 32 of sizemarker 12 are disposed in recesses 50 and 52 thereof and overlie hooklatching ledges 54 and 56.

[0030] In reaching the assembly of FIG. 5, size marker 10 is forced intosize marker receiving portion 18 of hanger 10. In the initial course ofthe insertion, floor portion 44 of size marker 10 passes freelyinteriorly of size marker retaining members 26 and 28. As the insertioncontinues, ledges 54 and 56 confront the tapered upper surfaces ofretaining structures 30 and 32 of size marker retaining members 26 and28 and deflect them outwardly. Next, as ledges 54 and 56 pass byretaining structures 30 and 32, the retaining structures enter recesses50 and 52, thus latching size marker 12 to hanger 10.

[0031] Various changes may be introduced in the disclosed preferredembodiment without departing from the invention. By way of example,another embodiment of the invention may include but a single retainingstructure of the hanger and a single latching ledge in contrast to theplural arrangement of retaining structures and latching recess of thedisclosed preferred embodiment. Accordingly, it is to be appreciatedthat the true spirit and scope of the invention is set forth in thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A hanger having a support rod engaging portion, agarment supporting portion extending downwardly of said support rodengaging portion and a size marker receiving portion opening into theperiphery of said hanger, said hanger defining in said size markerreceiving portion at least one deflectable size marker retaining member.2. The hanger claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one deflectablesize marker retaining member defines retention structure at a free endthereof.
 3. The hanger claimed in claim 1, wherein said size markerreceiving portion includes a floor and opposed sidewalls extendingupwardly of said floor, said at least one deflectable size markerretaining member extending upwardly of said floor in spaced relation tosaid opposed sidewalls to a free end.
 4. The hanger claimed in claim 3,wherein said opposed sidewalls are each of a dimension upwardly of saidfloor exceeding a dimension upwardly of said floor of said at least onedeflectable size marker retaining member.
 5. A hanger having a supportrod engaging portion, a garment supporting portion extending downwardlyof said support rod engaging portion and a size marker receiving portionopening into the periphery of said hanger, said hanger defining in saidsize marker receiving portion first and second mutually spaceddeflectable size marker retaining members.
 6. The hanger claimed inclaim 5, wherein each of said first and second deflectable size markerretaining members defines retention structure at a free end thereof. 7.The hanger claimed in claim 5, wherein said size marker receivingportion includes a floor and first and second opposed sidewallsextending upwardly of said floor, said first and second deflectable sizemarker retaining members extending upwardly of said floor in spacedrelation respectively to said first and second opposed sidewalls torespective free ends.
 8. The hanger claimed in claim 7, wherein saidfirst and second opposed sidewalls are each of a dimension upwardly ofsaid floor exceeding a dimension upwardly of said floor of said firstand second deflectable size marker retaining members.
 9. A size markerfor assembly with a hanger comprising a rigid body defining a ceilingand front and rear walls extending downwardly of said ceiling to afloor, at least one passage opening into said floor and extending tosaid ceiling, said body defining a recess extending between said frontand rear walls, said recess communicating with said passage at an upperportion thereof.
 10. The size marker claimed in claim 9, wherein saidpassage opens into a side margin of said rigid body.
 11. A size markerfor assembly with a hanger comprising a rigid body defining a ceilingand front and rear walls extending downwardly of said ceiling to afloor, first and second passages opening into said floor and extendingto said ceiling, said body defining first and second recesses extendingbetween said front and rear walls, said first and second recessescommunicating respectively with said first and second passages atrespective upper portions thereof.
 12. The size marker claimed in claim11, wherein said first and second passages open into respective firstand second side margins of said rigid body.
 13. In combination: a hangerhaving a support rod engaging portion, a garment supporting portionextending downwardly of said support rod engaging portion and a sizemarker receiving portion opening into the periphery of said hanger, saidhanger defining in said size marker receiving portion at least onedeflectable size marker retaining member; and a size marker disposed insaid hanger size marker receiving portion and secured to said hanger bysaid deflectable size marker retaining member.
 14. In combination: ahanger having a support rod engaging portion, a garment supportingportion extending downwardly of said support rod engaging portion and asize marker receiving portion opening into the periphery of said hanger,said hanger defining in said size marker receiving portion first andsecond deflectable size marker retaining members; and a size markerdisposed in said hanger size marker receiving portion and secured tosaid hanger by said first and second deflectable size marker retainingmembers.
 15. The invention claimed in claim 14, wherein each of saidfirst and second deflectable size marker retaining members definesretention structure at a free end thereof.
 16. The invention claimed inclaim 14, wherein said size marker receiving portion includes a floorand first and second opposed sidewalls extending upwardly of said floor,said first and second deflectable size marker retaining membersextending upwardly of said floor in spaced relation respectively to saidfirst and second opposed sidewalls to respective free ends.
 17. Theinvention claimed in claim 16, wherein said first and second opposedsidewalls are each of a dimension upwardly of said floor exceeding adimension upwardly of said floor of said first and second deflectablesize marker retaining members.
 18. The invention claimed in claim 17,wherein said size marker comprises a rigid body defining a ceiling andfront and rear walls extending downwardly of said ceiling to a floor,first and second passages opening into said floor and extending to saidceiling, said body defining first and second recesses extending betweensaid front and rear walls, said first and second recesses communicatingrespectively with said first and second passages at respective upperportions thereof.
 19. The invention claimed in claim 11, wherein saidfirst and second passages open into respective first and second sidemargins of said rigid body.